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“Two Long Years”: Why Katherine O’Neill resigned as PC Party President

In this week’s episode, we ask former PC President, Katherine O’Neill, about what really happened inside the PC party after it was nearly wiped off Alberta’s political map in 2015, and why she decided to step down from the party executive, just three weeks after the election of party leader Jason Kenney.

For two years, O’Neill was the “referee” (her words, not ours) of a party seeking to redefine itself. In debt, and decimated by the 2015 provincial election, O’Neill says she did her best to bring the party back together. But it wasn’t always easy.

“It’s been a very long two years,” she told us, admitting that at times she felt her personal safety was at risk — the result of a heated leadership race that brought aggressive commentators to the forefront.

“I’ve been a war reporter in Afghanistan, I’ve had bullets whizz by my head, so I’m not this shrinking violet who gets scared easily. I was very worried about my personal safety, but that’s not why I took a break,” she said.

To hear why she took a break, listen to the full episode.

We also wade into the debate over Charging Bull vs. Fearless Girl, the two statues facing off near Wall Street in New York City. The statues have sparked discussions about art, political movements, women and leadership The sculptor behind the bull, built thirty years ago, is taking offence to the fearless girl, another statue erected shortly after the election of President Donald Trump and commissioned by State Street Global Advisors, a financial firm. We talk about what the fearless girl represents and how politics and art can be a powerful combination.